Mt. Meru Trek (4,556 meters)
4 Day / 3 Night Trek
Hut Accommodation on Mountain
Too often overshadowed by its infamous neighbor, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Meru is an underappreciated gem in Northern Tanzania. Rising up from the savanna plains and rainforests of Arusha National Park, the first and final days of an expedition up Mt. Meru can also be considered a walking safari in a park known for grazing giraffes, colobus monkeys, and a variety of exotic birds. An exhilarating walk along the rim of the crater that tops Meru will provide a view of Kilimanjaro in the distance and, with the perfect ash cone in the crater’s center, a reminder that you have conquered a recently dormant volcano. The steep slopes of Meru offer a beautiful and exhilarating challenge for any reasonably fit hiker.
Sometimes climbed as an acclimation trip for those focused on Mt. Kilimanjaro, a trek up Mt. Meru is also a destination in itself.
Day 0: Pick up from airport, Overnight in Arusha Hotel.
Day 1: Depart Arusha for Momella gate (1500m). Walk through
grassland and forest, lunch at Fig Tree, and arrive at Miriakamba
Hut (2,514m) after 4 -6hrs.
Day 2: Climb out of mountain forest into moorland, past Elephant
Ridge, to Saddle Hut (3, 570m). Optional afternoon ascent to
Little Meru (3,820m) to watch the sunset.
Day 3: Depart around 2AM for the steep ascent to Rhino point
(3,800m), continue along ridge to reach Cobra Point (4,350m) at
sunrise, and summit at Socialist Peak (4,556m). Enjoy
spectacular views of Ash cone in the crater and Mt. Kilimanjaro
in the distance. Descend to Saddle Hut for lunch, then continue
to Miriakamba for overnight. 10-12 hr trek.
Day 4: Finish your trek with an easy walk to Momella Gate, where a
car will be waiting to take you to your Arusha or Moshi hotel.